Who will Sharks' DeBoer choose: proven veteran or rising prospect?

SAN JOSE — Defenseman Paul Martin is healthy and ready to go. He’s just waiting to get the nod from above.

Sharks coach Pete DeBoer is about to face a decision that every head coach in professional sports confronts at some point in his career: stick with the proven veteran or hand the keys over to the rising prospect that emerges in his absence?

At this point, DeBoer appears to be buying himself as much time as possible before he makes a decision about whether to play Martin or up-and-coming defenseman Joakim Ryan alongside reigning Norris Trophy winner Brent Burns on the Sharks blue line.

The Sharks coach said Martin will not be in the lineup when his team squares off with the Vancouver Canucks at SAP Center Saturday night.

Advertisement

“That’s kind of a moving target,” DeBoer said, in regards to Martin’s return date. “A lot of that’s in his hands, his and our trainers. Again, the last thing we want is a setback.

“The first step is get him healthy, and then we’ll make decisions, but we’re not even there yet.”

On Monday, though, Martin, who’s been on injured reserve since Oct. 12, said his surgically-repaired ankle is healthy enough to play. It was just a matter of getting a full week of practice under his belt to improve his timing and conditioning.

The veteran defenseman didn’t back away from his assessment after practice Friday.

“I feel good now. It might be tough with back to backs coming up this weekend, and then we have some time off, so we’re probably looking at Thursday,” he said. “It’s in the coach’s hands. I just prepare to get ready to go and that’s all I can do.”

The Sharks aren’t in a rush to plug Martin back into the lineup because Ryan has slipped into his role as Burns’ partner rather seamlessly. Like Martin, Ryan plays a quiet game based on angles, body positioning and stick play.

He’s only recorded one point, but numbers don’t paint an accurate picture of what he brings to the Sharks blue line.

“Joakim’s game is a little different. It’s not on offense,” DeBoer said. “It’s time and space, and moving the puck, and gap, and angles, and positioning. Being able to do a little bit of everything.”

f the Sharks were to activate Martin, and give him the nod over Ryan, the 24-year-old blue liner would likely return to the Barracuda, where he could play top-line minutes instead of sitting in the press box and accumulating rust.

But at this point, it’s unclear whether a reassignment to the AHL is what’s best for Ryan and the Sharks.

On one hand, Ryan has already mastered the AHL, leading the Barracuda in shots last season (185), ranking third on the team in scoring (49 points) and fourth in the league in plus/minus (plus-27). His growth needs to take place at the NHL level.

At the same time, Ryan’s continued presence in the Sharks lineup could give general manager Doug Wilson some trade options as the winter progresses. Everyone is looking for blue-line depth, and if Ryan continues to play with consistency, it will only increase his value on the market.

“I really have no control or say over what happens,” Ryan said. “Obviously, Pete’s going to play whoever he wants to play and do whatever he thinks is best. I really can’t do much more than just worry about myself, worry about my game, and every time I’m in the lineup, do my best to stay there.”

If Ryan can stay in the lineup and maintain DeBoer’s trust over a longer stretch of games, it could give Wilson the option of shipping Martin out to a team in need of a veteran defenseman, shedding his $4.85 million salary and freeing up the cap space to take a charge at a pending-unrestricted free agent at the trade deadline or over the summer.

Although Ryan is pushing for his job, Martin said he’s “happy” that the young defenseman is finding success because it gives the Sharks more options, which usually translates into wins.

Martin isn’t concerned about being leapfrogged on the Sharks depth chart or traded during the season.

“The most important thing is winning games. Once you start getting into all that other stuff, you don’t bring your best self to the rink,” Martin said. “I really like it here, but you always know you’ll be playing somewhere regardless of what happens.”